Numeral plate for dial telephones



p 1931- H. J. SORRELLS 1,823,958

NUMERAL PLATE FOR DIAL- TELEPHONES Filed July 18 1930 I INVENTOR Heiine Sorrells BY QAQEAa/LZQ ATTORNEY I Patented Sept. 1931 UNITED as P TENr. tomes BETTIE s. scams, or wrcnira. V I

roman rna'rn FOB mar. mom

-Appl1oation am July 18, 1930. Serial Io. 408,751.

My invention relates to an improved .nu-

hingedly connected sections that may be at-.';

tached to the dial without the removal of any part thereof. i 1 V A still further object of my invention is to provide anumeral plate that will co-act with the dial system and may be applied'without mutilating any of the parts of the dial.

I A still further object of my invention is to 90 provide a'plate having luminous numerals thereon and a transparent covering therefor to avoid the finger contact with the'luminous element'of the numerals and also to avoid frictional contact-should an instrument be employed to turn the finger plate-should-the same be inserted through the apertures thereof. D A still further object of my invention is to provide a fabric cushion element to avoid vibration and also abrasion, by the present dial is protected. A still further object of my invention to provide a numeral plate thatgis inexpensive to manufacture and simple to apply to the dial of a telephone and having means to accurately position the same when placed operatively. V .7

These and other objects will be hereinafter more fully explained, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings which form a part of thls specification, and in which like characters'will apply to like parts in the different views. Y r Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the base portion-of a dial phone, showing a preferred form for the attachment of my numeral plate having means to preventrotation thereof and to ten-. sion the same snugly on the former numeral 59 plate. a

which means.

Fi .2isasimilarviewtoF' .lshowing a mo ed method of attachingjghge plate.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the phone with parts removed for OODVQIP. ience of illustration. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the numeral plate as it appears when attached to the present dial system.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the numeral plate in an open position as required for in- Q serting the same in the present dial system.

Fig. 6' is a side view showinfintge preferred locking means applied to the r stop. 1

' Fig. 7 is a similar view to .6 but showin a modified method for atta the plate. I ig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the frictional attac means for the free ends of the plate, the send view fragmentarily shown... V

Fig. 9 is an enlarged 'view of the free end of member 1 of the numeral plate.

My invention hereindisclosed consists of a numeral plate comprising two semi-circular members 11 and 2, the said members being pivotly connected as at 3, and the opposite ends 7 connect when rocked to a lapped position being stopped or detained by .a similar indenture 4 and 4' on each end thereof, the said indentures coinciding in form to at snugly together. As a means to avoid separation thereof I have arranged a pair of clip elements 5 and 5' that are integral with the semi circular member 1 and in close roximity to V the end thereof and op 'tely V and aggpfid to receive ttllile bete'nd offlmmembe'r 8 s a y engaging ere een, provision for which is shown by the space A in Fig. 9. The said semi-circular members 1 and 2 have numerals run from 1 to 0 spaced therearound and being positioned to 9 register with thenumerals on the present plate of the'dial which means the first said numerals-will be in registry with their respective apertures in the finger wheelB. The said numeralsare produced by printing the same with radium, pho horusor the like, by which means they are visible in the dark, thereby obviating thenecessity of other lightingmeans to observe the same while dialing the number required'l As a means to avoidcontact with the said illuminous elements while exercising the wheel with the fingers, a transparent filmlike structure 6 is placed on the upper face ofeach of the said semi-circular members 1 and 2, the said members having a plurality of clips 7 as meansto bind the transparent structure securely in position as shown in Fig. 4, it being understood that the said transparent structure will rock with their respective plate members and when closed as shown in Fig. 4 the adjacent ends will abut on the same plane as shown at C.

In Figs. 1 and 4 is shown the preferred method of attaching the numeral plate which is accomplished by a flange 8 downwardly extending and adapted to'engage snugly with one side of the finger stop bracket 9 and a second flange to engage on the other side thereof, the last said flange having a hook element 10downwardly extending therefrom to engage beneath the bracket, it being understood that the said flange elements are connected toplate member 1, by which means the numeral plate is firmly attached against rotation and upward movement, and without re;'

moval of any part of present dial system.

Inasmuch as the space between the orig inal numeral plate and the finger wheel is restricted, it was found necessary to arrange the flange 8 so that it would freely pass between the numeral plate and finger wheel when placing the plate in operative position which is accomplished by opening the members thereof as shown in Fig. 5, and by closing the ends thereof to engagement as previously described, the said members will engage on the hub of the dial covering the original numeral plate.

To avoid abrasion or vibration that might occur, I have placed on the under side of the said semi-circular plates a plurality of fabric disc-like elements 11, by which arrangement tachin' means for the members, said flange and said hook element being spaced apart to snugly engage with the bracket of a finger stop substantially as shown.

2. In improvements in a numeral plate for a dial telephone, an annular numeral plate divided diametrically, the two plate portions pivotally connected at one side, the other side to lap, the lapped portions having an indenture corresponding in each to frictionally engage, a pair of clips on one end to receive the other end as snug engagement of the lndentures, the plate having numerals printed thereon-with radium substance as visible means therefor in the dark. v

3. In improvement in a numeral late for a dial telephone, in combination wit the dial of a telephone, a pair of semi-circular numeral plates, the said plates being pivotally connected at one pair of the ends, means to frictionally connect the other pair for snug engagement with the hub of'the telephone dial, a flange and hook member'positioned at right angles to the plane of the face of one of the members of the'plate,'the hook and flange adapted to. engage snugly'with the dial finger stop bracket, luminous numerals spaced on the corresponding faces of each of the members of the plate, a transparent element secured to each of the plate members and coinciding in form thereto, each of the plates having clips positioned onthe edges thereof as securing means for! the transparent elements to their respecti e plate mem bers, a plurality of fabric members applied to the under side of each of the plate members and secured thereto by adhesive substance, all as and forthe purpose s ecified.

In testimony whereof'I a HETTIE J. SORRELLS.

the fabric elements function as a separating means for the saidplates from the present numeral plates now employed in the dial As a modification for attaching the said i .numeral plate a flange 12 integral with memher 1 and downwardly extending. as shown in Fig. 7 is arranged to engage between the fingel: stop bracket and the base of the dial and secured by replacing the screws D binding the same securely; and" such other modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is 1; In an improved numeral plate for a dial uide means for themy signature.

ill

telephone, a numeral plate consisting of two members pivotly connected at one end, and Y means to connect the .other ends securely together, a flan e and a hook element integral with one of t a members as a stationary at- 

